The Excalibur Alternative
Jan 2002 · Baen Publishing Enterprises
4.5star
34 reviews
Ebook
320
Pages
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About this ebook
HE WHO LIVES BY THE SWORD . . .
The races which ruled the Galactic Federation knew they were vastly superior to the inferior species restricted to the narrow confines of their own star systems by the crudity of their technology . . . and they had every intention of keeping things that way.
It was a neat little scam, a rigged game in which only the House could win, which the Federation had played for over a hundred thousand years, and no one had ever managed to challenge it.
Yet all good things come to an end, and the Galactics made one mistake. It didn't seem all that terrible at first, only a single merchant guild which bought itself a Roman legion to use as enslaved sepoys on the primitive worlds where they weren't permitted to use their own weapons to force trading concessions. But the Romans were too good at what they did, and a desperate competing guild decided that the only way it could continue to compete was if it had Romans of its own.
Unfortunately, Roman legions were no longer available, so the competing guild had to settle for something else: English longbowmen on their way to the Battle of Crecy.
Roman legions make dangerous pets . . . but English longbowmen are even worse.
It may take a century or so, but the Galactics are about to discover what happens when the sword finally comes out of the stone.
At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).
The races which ruled the Galactic Federation knew they were vastly superior to the inferior species restricted to the narrow confines of their own star systems by the crudity of their technology . . . and they had every intention of keeping things that way.
It was a neat little scam, a rigged game in which only the House could win, which the Federation had played for over a hundred thousand years, and no one had ever managed to challenge it.
Yet all good things come to an end, and the Galactics made one mistake. It didn't seem all that terrible at first, only a single merchant guild which bought itself a Roman legion to use as enslaved sepoys on the primitive worlds where they weren't permitted to use their own weapons to force trading concessions. But the Romans were too good at what they did, and a desperate competing guild decided that the only way it could continue to compete was if it had Romans of its own.
Unfortunately, Roman legions were no longer available, so the competing guild had to settle for something else: English longbowmen on their way to the Battle of Crecy.
Roman legions make dangerous pets . . . but English longbowmen are even worse.
It may take a century or so, but the Galactics are about to discover what happens when the sword finally comes out of the stone.
At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).
Ratings and reviews
4.5
34 reviews
Tim Goodwin
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April 10, 2017
David weber is obviously a student of Shakespeare as well as English history. This tale is an entertaining mixture of both of those subjects and a none stop read. Terrific.
Philip Messina
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March 30, 2019
Went quicker than I thought. Good reading.
Lynda Davenport
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November 29, 2022
well though out A new artherian legend well written & thought out good job
About the author
A lifetime military history buff, David Weber has carried his interest in history into his fiction._ In the New York Times best selling Honor Harrington series, the spirit of both C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower and history's Admiral Nelson are evident._ With over five million copies of his books in print, David Weber is the fastest rising star in the Science Fiction universe._ His Honor Harrington series boasts over 3 million copies in print, and Weber has had over thirteen of his titles on The New York Times Best Seller List._ War of Honor, book 10 in the series appeared on over twelve Best Seller lists, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and USA TODAY.
While he is best known for his spirited, modern-minded space operas, he has also developed a fantasy series, of which two books have been publishe_ Oath of Swords and The War God's Own. _David's solo work also includes three novels of the "Dahak" series, and the stand alone novels:_ Path of the Fury and The Excalibur Alternative.
Weber's first published novels grew out of his work as a war game designer for the Task Force game Starfire._ With collaborator Steve White, Weber has written four novels set in that universe: Insurrection, Crusade, In Death Ground, and The Shiva Option.
Recent bestsellers in planetary adventures also include the teamwork of John Ringo in the best selling Empire of Man series where the titles March Upcountry, March to the Sea, March to the Stars and We Few have made appearances on The New York Times List.
Weber's proliferation continues with author Eric Flint, where they joined forces in the Best Selling "Ring of Fire" alternate history series, for 1634: The Baltic War, coming in May.
A popular guest at science fiction conventions, Weber makes his home in South Carolina with his wife Sharon, three children and a passel of dogs.
While he is best known for his spirited, modern-minded space operas, he has also developed a fantasy series, of which two books have been publishe_ Oath of Swords and The War God's Own. _David's solo work also includes three novels of the "Dahak" series, and the stand alone novels:_ Path of the Fury and The Excalibur Alternative.
Weber's first published novels grew out of his work as a war game designer for the Task Force game Starfire._ With collaborator Steve White, Weber has written four novels set in that universe: Insurrection, Crusade, In Death Ground, and The Shiva Option.
Recent bestsellers in planetary adventures also include the teamwork of John Ringo in the best selling Empire of Man series where the titles March Upcountry, March to the Sea, March to the Stars and We Few have made appearances on The New York Times List.
Weber's proliferation continues with author Eric Flint, where they joined forces in the Best Selling "Ring of Fire" alternate history series, for 1634: The Baltic War, coming in May.
A popular guest at science fiction conventions, Weber makes his home in South Carolina with his wife Sharon, three children and a passel of dogs.
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